On Thursday afternoon, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt spoke on the phone with Czech President Václav Klaus to learn when he will be ready to sign the Treaty of Lisbon.

According to Mr Reinfeldt, Mr Klaus expressed a wish to add new text, in the form of a footnote consisting of two sentences. This text would then be adopted by the European Council.

“As far as I can understand, the footnote involves the charter of rights connected to the Treaty. But the President was not clear on this point, so he must specify this himself”, said Mr Reinfeldt.

“The wrong message at the wrong time”

“I told the President that this is the wrong message at the wrong time. There have been many opportunities and plenty of time to put forward different views. I know I speak for many of my colleagues when I express this view", Mr Reinfeldt said.

"President Klaus also emphasised that we must await the decision of the Czech Constitutional Court."